Unemployment among Doctoral Scientists and Engineers Remained Below the National Average in 2013

In 2013, an estimated 837,900 individuals in the United States held research doctoral degrees in science, engineering, and health (SEH) fields, an increase of 4.0% from 2010.[2] Of these individuals, approximately 735,900 were in the labor force, which includes those employed full time or part time and those actively seeking work (i.e., unemployed). The unemployment rate for SEH doctorate recipients in the labor force was 2.1% in February 2013, down from 2.4% in October 2010 (table 1). Moreover, the 2013 unemployment rate of the SEH doctoral labor force was one-third of the February 2013 unemployment rate for the general population aged 25 years or older (6.3%).[3]

TABLE 1. Number in labor force and unemployment rate for scientists and engineers with U.S. doctoral degrees, by field of doctorate: Selected years, 2001–13

Field of doctorate

2001

2003

2006

2008

2010

2013

Number in labor force

All SEH fields

582,500

606,300

630,300

670,200

709,700

735,900

Biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences

142,400

148,800

158,200

167,600

179,600

187,700

Computer and information sciences

10,900

12,300

13,700

16,300

19,400

22,200

Mathematics and statistics

26,300

29,000

29,500

31,200

32,500

33,000

Physical sciences

113,200

115,700

115,800

119,900

124,400

125,600

Psychology

89,600

93,000

97,500

101,000

104,200

106,600

Social sciences

77,200

79,600

81,000

85,100

88,700

90,200

Engineering

101,300

104,400

108,000

119,800

129,100

136,300

Health

21,500

23,600

26,500

29,300

31,800

34,200

Unemployment rate (percent)a

All SEH fields

1.3

2.1

1.4

1.7

2.4

2.1

Biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences

1.1

2.0

1.4

1.9

2.2

2.2

Computer and information sciences

0.9

2.4

1.4

1.2

2.1

1.8

Mathematics and statistics

1.5

2.4

1.0

1.0

1.5

1.2

Physical sciences

1.7

2.5

2.1

2.4

3.5

2.7

Psychology

0.8

1.7

0.9

1.3

1.7

1.6

Social sciences

1.3

1.5

1.0

1.3

1.9

1.9

Engineering

1.7

2.7

1.4

1.8

2.8

1.9

Health

0.5

1.3

0.7

1.0

1.9

2.0

SEH = science, engineering, and health.

a Based on count of doctorate recipients in the labor force.

NOTES: Numbers represent weighted counts, rounded to the nearest 100. Details may not add to totals due to rounding. October was the survey reference month in 2003, 2008, and 2010; April was the survey reference month in 2001 and 2006; February was the survey reference month in 2013. Estimates from 2008 vary from those previously published because a revised sample design was retroactively applied. The revised design integrates the international component of the Survey of Doctorate Recipients. Estimates from 2010 and 2013 also reflect the revised sample design. See Data Sources and Availability for more detail.

SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients.

These and other findings in this InfoBrief are from the 2013 Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR), which collects information from individuals who have earned research doctorates in SEH fields from U.S. academic institutions.

Employment Status

Field of Doctoral Study and Years since Doctorate

Of the approximately 735,900 SEH doctoral degree holders in the labor force in 2013, about one-quarter (25.5%) had earned a doctorate in the biological, agricultural, or environmental life sciences; 18.5% had doctorates in engineering; 17.1% in physical sciences; 14.5% in psychology; 12.3% in social sciences; 4.6% in health; 4.5% in mathematics and statistics; and 3.0% in computer and information sciences (percentages derived from table 1). Unemployment rates of SEH doctorates in the labor force ranged from 1.2% for those who received doctorates in mathematics and statistics to 2.7% for those who received doctorates in the physical sciences.

Of the total SEH doctoral population in February 2013, 87.8% was in the labor force, with 76.0% working full time and another 10.1% working part time (table 2). An additional 10.4% of the SEH doctoral population was retired in 2013, whereas the rest was not seeking work (1.7%). Across SEH degree fields, full-time employment ranged from 64.5% for psychology doctorates to 90.0% for computer and information sciences doctorates.

TABLE 2. Employment status of scientists and engineers with U.S. doctoral degrees, by field and years since doctorate: 2013 (Percent)

In labor force

Not in labor force

Field and years since doctorate

Total(number)

All

Working for pay or profit

Unemployeda

All

Retired

Not working, not seeking work

Allworking

Fulltime

Parttime

All U.S. SEH doctorate holders

837,900

87.8

86.0

76.0

10.1

1.8

12.2

10.4

1.7

Field of doctorate

Biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences

211,900

88.6

86.6

79.1

7.5

2.0

11.4

9.2

2.2

Computer and information sciences

23,000

96.5

95.2

90.0

5.2

1.7

3.5

2.6

0.9

Mathematics and statistics

39,200

84.2

83.2

75.5

7.7

1.0

15.8

13.8

2.0

Physical sciences

148,800

84.4

82.1

74.4

7.7

2.3

15.6

13.8

1.7

Psychology

120,200

88.7

87.3

64.5

22.8

1.4

11.3

9.3

2.0

Social sciences

105,900

85.2

83.6

72.1

11.4

1.6

14.8

13.3

1.5

Engineering

150,600

90.5

88.8

82.7

6.1

1.7

9.5

8.4

1.1

Health

38,300

89.3

87.5

76.5

10.7

1.8

10.7

9.1

1.8

Years since doctorate

2 years or less

60,000

98.0

96.2

89.7

6.5

1.8

2.0

D

1.8

3–5 years

80,400

97.8

95.6

89.7

6.0

2.1

2.4

0.4

2.0

6–10 years

112,300

97.0

95.2

87.3

7.9

1.8

3.0

0.9

2.0

11–15 years

110,900

95.5

94.1

85.1

9.0

1.4

4.5

2.2

2.4

16–20 years

98,100

94.4

92.8

84.1

8.7

1.6

5.6

3.4

2.2

21–25 years

80,900

91.5

89.7

80.2

9.5

1.7

8.7

6.8

1.7

More than 25 years

232,800

67.0

65.2

49.3

15.9

1.8

33.0

32.1

0.9

D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information.

SEH = science, engineering, and health.

a Based on count of all doctorate recipients.

NOTES: Numbers represent weighted counts, rounded to the nearest 100. Details may not add to totals due to rounding. Designation of full-time and part-time employment status is based on principal job only, not on all jobs held in labor force. Full-time employed persons are those working at least 35 hours per week at their principal job. Part-time employed persons are those working fewer than 35 hours per week.

SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2013.

Retirement and part-time work status differed by years since doctorate award. Those who earned their doctorates more than 25 years ago were, as expected, more likely than the younger cohorts to be retired and out of the labor force (32.1% in 2013) and to be working part time (15.9%) (table 2).[4] In contrast, years since doctorate award had no significant relationship with the unemployment rate.[5]

Demographics

Women continue to represent a growing share of doctorate holders, rising to 32.9% of all SEH doctorate holders in February 2013, from 31.5% in October 2010 and 30.2% in October 2008. In 2013, the labor force participation rate among SEH doctorate holders was 89.1% for women, compared with 87.2% for men (table 3). Female SEH doctorate holders were less likely than their male counterparts to be employed full time in 2013 (72.7% of women, 77.5% of men) and more likely not to be seeking work (3.7% of women, 0.8% of men). Female SEH doctorate holders, who as a group are younger than male SEH doctorate holders, were also less likely than their male counterparts to be retired (7.2% of women, 12.1% of men). In contrast, the proportions of female and male doctorate recipients who reported themselves as unemployed in February 2013 were not significantly different (2.0% of women, 1.7% of men).

TABLE 3. Employment status of scientists and engineers with U.S. doctoral degrees, by sex, ethnicity, race, and citizenship: 2013 (Percent)

In labor force

Not in labor force

Sex, ethnicity, race, and citizenship

Total (number)

All

Working for pay or profit

Unemployeda

All

Retired

Not working, not seeking work

All working

Full time

Part time

All U.S. SEH doctorate holders

837,900

87.8

86.0

76.0

10.1

1.8

12.2

10.4

1.7

Sex

Male

562,400

87.2

85.5

77.5

7.9

1.7

12.8

12.1

0.8

Female

275,500

89.1

87.1

72.7

14.4

2.0

10.9

7.2

3.7

Ethnicity and race

Hispanic or Latino

28,800

93.8

92.0

81.9

10.1

2.1

6.3

4.5

1.4

Not Hispanic or Latino

809,200

87.6

85.8

75.7

10.1

1.8

12.4

10.7

1.7

American Indian or Alaska Native

1,800

94.4

88.9

77.8

11.1

D

5.6

5.6

D

Asian

159,400

94.2

92.2

87.6

4.5

2.1

5.8

4.1

1.7

Black or African American

25,900

94.2

91.1

79.9

11.2

3.1

5.4

4.6

0.8

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

1,000

90.0

90.0

80.0

10.0

D

10.0

D

D

White

611,400

85.5

83.9

72.4

11.5

1.6

14.5

12.7

1.8

More than one race

9,700

89.7

85.6

76.3

9.3

3.1

11.3

8.2

3.1

Citizenship

U.S. citizen or permanent resident

809,200

87.4

85.6

75.3

10.4

1.8

12.6

10.8

1.7

Temporary visa holder

28,700

98.6

96.9

94.8

2.1

1.7

1.7

D

1.7

D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information.

SEH = science, engineering, and health.

a Based on count of all doctorate recipients.

NOTES: Numbers represent weighted counts, rounded to the nearest 100. Details may not add to totals due to rounding. Designation of full-time and part-time employment status is based on principal job only, not on all jobs held in labor force. Full-time employed persons are those working at least 35 hours per week at their principal job. Part-time employed persons are those working fewer than 35 hours per week. Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2013.

A majority of the SEH doctoral population is white (73.0%), with Asians constituting the next largest group (19.0%). Within the SEH doctoral population, Hispanics or Latinos were employed full time at a higher rate than those who are not Hispanic or Latino (81.9% versus 75.7%). Among those who are not Hispanic or Latino, Asian doctorate holders exhibited a higher level of full-time employment (87.6%) than blacks or African Americans (79.9%), whites (72.4%), and those who reported more than one race (76.3%). Whites were more likely to be retired (12.7%) than were Hispanics or Latinos (4.5%), Asians (4.1%), blacks or African Americans (4.6%), and those reporting more than one race (8.2%) (table 3), reflecting the younger ages of the individuals in the SEH doctoral population who are not white.[6]

In 2013, 3.4% of the SEH doctoral population held temporary visas (derived from table 3). As might be expected based on U.S. visa requirements, almost all of these individuals (96.9%) were working full or part time; a small fraction was not in the labor force in February 2013 (1.7%).

Sector

Four-year educational institutions employed 42.2% of all working SEH doctorate recipients in 2013. Private for-profit firms employed the next-largest share of the doctoral workforce at 32.3% of the total (derived from table 4). Most doctorate recipients in the social sciences were employed in 4-year educational institutions (62.7%). Doctorate recipients in the field of engineering tended to be employed in for-profit firms (58.1%) (derived from table 4).

TABLE 4. Employed scientists and engineers with U.S. doctoral degrees, by employment sector and field of doctorate: 2013

Employment sector

Field of doctorate

All employed

4-year educational institutiona

Private for-profitb

Private non-profit

Federal government

State or local government

Self-employedc

Otherd

All SEH fields

720,800

304,400

233,100

45,500

49,200

16,900

43,400

28,400

Biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences

183,500

88,800

47,300

14,000

15,700

4,000

6,700

7,000

Computer and information sciences

21,900

8,300

10,500

900

800

D

800

400

Mathematics and statistics

32,600

18,600

9,000

1,300

1,200

200

800

1,400

Physical sciences

122,200

43,600

51,200

6,300

9,500

2,300

4,100

5,200

Psychology

104,900

35,300

20,500

10,000

6,400

5,200

20,800

6,700

Social sciences

88,500

55,500

11,200

5,300

5,100

2,200

4,300

4,900

Engineering

133,700

35,100

77,700

4,600

8,000

2,000

4,500

1,800

Health

33,500

19,000

5,700

3,200

2,300

800

1,500

1,000

D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information.

SEH = science, engineering, and health.

a Includes 4-year colleges or universities, medical schools (including university-affiliated hospitals or medical centers), and university-affiliated research institutes.
b Includes those self-employed in an incorporated business.
c Self-employed or business owner in a nonincorporated business.
d Includes 2-year colleges, community colleges, technical institutes, other precollege institutions, and employers not broken out separately.

NOTES: Numbers represent weighted counts, rounded to the nearest 100. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.

SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2013.

Data Sources and Availability

Comparative terms in this InfoBrief (e.g., higher, more or less likely, differ, increase) are based on statistical tests for significant differences at the 95% level. Percentage comparisons in this report are based on unrounded estimates and may differ from percentages calculated from the rounded estimates displayed in the tables.

The ethnicity and race categories reported here are mutually exclusive. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity refers to all individuals who reported Hispanic or Latino origin regardless of racial background. The estimates on racial backgrounds refer to individuals who were not of Hispanic or Latino origin and who reported only one racial background. Individuals who reported more than one racial background are shown as a separate group.

Data in this InfoBrief are from the SDR, a biennial longitudinal survey of individuals who earned doctoral degrees in SEH fields from U.S. institutions. A sample of doctorate recipients is followed throughout their careers until they reach age 76, and the panel is refreshed each survey cycle with a sample of recent doctoral graduates. The SDR has been conducted since 1973 and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health.

The 2013 SDR provides data from 30,696 responding sample members (76.4% response rate), representing an estimated 837,900 SEH doctorate recipients in the United States. Historically, the SDR sample included only U.S.-degreed doctorate recipients residing or working in the United States on the survey reference date. Beginning in 2010, an integrated sample design was implemented, allowing U.S.-degreed doctorate recipients located outside of the United States to be considered eligible for the survey and counted among the national sample. Once the integrated approach was developed, it was retroactively applied to the 2008 SDR data.

Notes

[1] Lance A. Selfa is with NORC at the University of Chicago. For more information, contact Steven Proudfoot, Human Resources Statistics Program, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 965, Arlington, VA 22230 (sproudfoot@nsf.gov; 703-292-4434). The authors thank Eric Hedberg, Carolina Milesi, Zachary Gebhardt, NORC at the University of Chicago, for their work on this InfoBrief.

[2] Counts in this InfoBrief represent weighted numbers rounded to the nearest 100. The standard error of the overall doctoral population of 837,900 is 950 (rounded up to the nearest 50). As such, the true number of doctorate recipients with U.S. doctoral degrees living in the United States in February 2013 is estimated (at a 95% confidence interval) to be between 836,000 and 839,700. For a listing of science, engineering, and health fields included in the 2013 Survey of Doctorate Recipients, see technical table B-1 at http://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/doctoratework/2013/#tabs-2.

[4] The length of time since doctorate receipt is associated with age: the median age of those with more than 25 years since doctorate receipt is 65 years, and the median age of those with 25 or fewer years since doctorate receipt is 44 years.

[5] Two measures of unemployment are used in this InfoBrief: (1) the unemployment rate as noted in table 1, which is based on the count of doctorate recipients in the labor force, and (2) the percentage unemployed as noted in tables 2 and 3, which is based on the count of all doctorate recipients, regardless of whether they are in the labor force.

[6] Because of the small sizes of the populations of (1) American Indians or Alaska Natives and (2) Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, statistically reliable comparisons between these two groups and others were not possible.

National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering StatisticsUnemployment among Doctoral Scientists and Engineers Remained Below the National Average in 2013
Arlington, VA (NSF 14-317) [September 2014]